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Dec 30, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress Hi Justin, really interesting to hear about your Insulin sensitivity, or rather INSENSITIVITY AM and PM.The perceived DAFNE wisdom, that I was reminded of just the other week, is that the BG scale become almost exponentially inaccurate the higher you get. So even above 12 the accuracy of BG reading is less reliable. Which is why the advice is not to correct more than +5 to avoid risk of hypo. Hard to apply, if you are experiencing persistent highs, but worth baring in mind. What happens to your sensitivity if you increase your BI? Also, could you say more about your experience of Dawn Phenomenon? Its been mentioned to me by HCPs but I'm not sure if I experience it or not. Cheers FG |
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Dec 30, 2015
Justinjroberts
9 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress Stress can drive BG up and down. For me it always drives it up.I also find that I need a lot more insulin to currect a high BG early in the morning and also before bed. If I had a 15 or 16 before bed I would need at least a +5 or 6 to get my levels back to normal and in some cases more. I also find that to correct a high BG early morning between 5 and 6am 1 unit of insulin only lowers my BG by 1, due to the dawn phenomena. Also Christmas can be a difficult time due to all the festive food and rest which can disrupt a normal routine and distort BG. Justin |
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Dec 29, 2015
Alan 49
280 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Maths Test Thanks Simon - I'll have to remember how to do that. I suppose the real point is that I shouldn't have to - why couldn't Walkers have put the 'per pie' values on the box? |
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Dec 29, 2015
Simon
574 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Maths Test Hi Alan,If the box is 372g for 6 pies then each pie is 62g (372 divided by 6) 62g can also be expressed at 0.62 of 100g So multiply your 60.9g of carbs per 100g by 0.62 to get 37.758g of carbs per 62g pie If you round that up it is 4 CPs So... You were right, enjoy the mince pie 
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Dec 29, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress Hi Brian, I could be wrong but I think STRESS generally drives BG DOWN, although not everyone has this experience. I think prolonged stress creates a glucose demand; metal and emotional pressures, which require both intense THOUGHT and EMOTION, will inevitably use sugar, right? I'm a teacher on holiday and right now I'm struggling to keep my BG down because of the absense of teaching stress (which I love, by the way) so I have dramatically increased my BI AND my QA ratio, and I'm STILL high! I've included 25th Christmas Day (really proud of my BGs that day :-) 'till 28th. This cold is not helping!  DOES HAVING A COLD INCREASE YOUR BG? Felix |
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Dec 29, 2015
billyb
1 post
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress I have been Type 1 since 1999. As a chartered accountant I teach at HND level and am stressed when mentoring students to write assignments. This seems to drive my bg levels DOWN, which may be against accepted wisdom. I take Dextrose and recover ok.Exercise usually and normally makes my numbers go down also. I would welcome similar observations. Brian in Oxford  |
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Dec 29, 2015
Alan 49
280 posts
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Topic: Carbohydrate Counting / Maths Test My wife bought some Walkers Mince Pies for Christmas. When they were served up, I consulted the Nutrition Information on the box. It only showed values per 100g and the carbs were 60.9g per 100g. It didn't show values per pie. The net weight of the box was 372g (I assume this means just the pies - not all the packaging) and there were 6 pies in the box.I'm not very good at maths, so I struggled to calculate the CPs per pie - I came up with 4 CPs - was I close? |
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Dec 23, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress Man after my own heart.Meditation works for me. When things go crazy at work, a bit of stillness before I leave in the morning changes my attitude to the whole day. Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfey do a great series of 20 min sessions, some free, some paying. I think you get what you pay for (£25?) - and I have to look past some of the new-age, north American language. I find if I just sit and try to meditate alone, I loose focus or even fall asleep. So this works for me at the moment. Focused or yoga breathing is also something I try (and generally don't manage) to do every day. I find this even more effective than medication in terms of slowing down my mind: Number 4, when I haven't got 2 blocked nostrils is wonderful - I recommend it. http://greatist.com/happiness/breathing-exercises-relax Felix |
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Dec 23, 2015
Justinjroberts
9 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress Thanks for your comments, it really helps to hear how it affects others and it's not just me. I do get over obsessive when I get a high BG level, although stress and work etc does not help. Stress makes my BG go up and then that makes me more stressed and it goes up even more. Has anyone tried meditation to help alleviate stress? |
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Dec 22, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: Site Development / Formatting url BBcode is broken Hi Simon,My DSN, Kathrin Meyer, says that the Lewisham Hospital IT system is making DAFNE login very problematic. Do you think that you could make contact with her ([email protected]) and see if there is a way forward for her and her team? It maybe that their system is simply blocking or not supporting DAFNE Online, but solution might be very simple? Best Regards Felix Glenn |
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Dec 22, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress Hi Justin,I get increasingly aggressive as I get higher. My wife says I am increasingly prone to road-rage when my BG is above target. She's right! I drive in a more confrontational manner when high. Conversely, if I'm below target, I feel vunerable and over-emotional, and I have been known to cry at adverts :-) Stress definately affects BG and I suggest keeping good records as it seems different for diferent people: For me, high levels of stress seems to burn carbs and I go low quite suddenly. I know other type ones who say it can raise BG, perhaps through adrenaline effects, stress eating etc. We are a hormonal soup and insulin is a hormone. It must influence mood. When you said you were becoming obsessive when high, did you mean obessive about BEING high or simply obesssing about WORK? Hang in there, Justin and try not to give yourself a hard time about fluctuating BG levels. No one gets it right all the time. Keep using the stepwise approach to home in on the true cause of the fluctuations. As you know it's often a conbination of factors, in this case stress being a player. Maybe think about sharing a section of your diary for discussion here? I think an emotional response to BG levels is entirely normal - anyone else? |
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Dec 22, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Principles Magic, many thanks, Peter.I will email this to my DSN. I have got so much from this forum already, just reading other peoples stories and queries is very affirming, and being able to dialog with a HCP is invaluable. In the short time I've been looking at and contributing ot the forum, I have only found one instance where someone has shared a Diary. Could you direct me to other threads where people are discussing examples of BG control? FG |
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Dec 22, 2015
Peter
103 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Can DAFNE consider changing from the use of CP’s to g of carbohydrate? I'd agree that a switch to carbohydrate grammes rather than CPs is probably a good idea given that in the real world that's how all foods are labelled. However I'd also prefer to stick with units to CPs rather than the reverse. I am lucky enough to be a pumper and have to do the conversion from time to time when changing insulin ratios, but on a daily basis I still think in terms of units to CPs. Secondly, unless there is some radical change in NHS policies, in the short term pumpers will be the minority in the UK and, in my opinion, the current ratio is much simpler to use for everyone else unless they have access to a device that does the conversion automatically and, unfortunately as we've seen with the the DAFNE app, calculators can't be made widely available as they have to be linked to an approved medical device rather than being readily available e.g. on a phone. |
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Dec 22, 2015
Peter
103 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Principles Your DSN (Diabetes Specialist Nurse) should contact the DAFNE On-line the site administrators for help with the access codes for the site. Part of the measurement of every DAFNE clinic's performance now includes a check that an introduction and access to DAFNE On-line is included in each course delivered, so it's surprising to hear that they are having problems with site access. Mark or Simon, as part of they great service they provide, will be able to sort this out.PS. You could also suggest to the DSN that the team member(s) who went to the annual DAFNE Collaborative in June this year or last, will have had been able to attend a session on DAFNE On-line during which Mark and Simon included a refresher on site access. Therefore the Lewisham team should have knowledge on what to do. PPS. Yes an HCP is a Health Care Professional. |
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Dec 22, 2015
Justinjroberts
9 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Stress I have currently been experiencing a lot of work related stress. I am also having problems controlling my BG levels and am becoming very obsessive when they go high. I am also experiencing more erratic moon swings and wondered if this is a side effect of fluctuating BG levels. I think both the stress and high BG feed off each other creating a catch 22 situation. Any suggestions would be welcome. |
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Dec 21, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Struggling with emotions
That is soooo helpful. Thanks BeccyB FX |
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Dec 21, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Basal check Thanks. You really know your onions! :-)I agree. Endless qustions and appointments is not independence. I agree, I need to able to be able to make informed basal changes independently if the pump is be a useful change. Otherwise it is just a layer of technology. The BEYOND THE BASAL article/site that you linked earlier is very useful. Thanks FG |
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Dec 21, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Principles Excellent news! Yes, I did the 5 day in 2010 then a half day refresher this month.I was hoping to dialog with my DSN (Dafne Specialist Nurse or Diabetic Specialist Nurse?) HCP ... Health Care Professional? Check me out with me acronyms!  The DSN at Lewisham says that they have had longstanding problems with their logins. I wanted to dialog with her on this forum about BI etc but insted I've just emailed her pdf. Pity. FG |
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Dec 21, 2015
novorapidboi26
1,816 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE Principles As I understand it you have to attend the full 5 days of DAFNE in order to receive the code from the educators...HCPs....if you have been to a refresher then that would mean you have been on the course and so yes, they can provide you with the code for this site... |
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Dec 21, 2015
novorapidboi26
1,816 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Basal check It varies all over the country as to what criteria you need to meet to start using a pump but there are some areas where attendance of a DAFNE course isn't required, or any dose adjustment educational program......some people have built up their own knowledge and understanding and as long as this can proved then a pump could still work well....... in my opinion though there is no point putting some one on a pump for them to then keep needing assistance from the HCPs either face to face or by phone, this is just no use really.... what you definitely need to be able to do on the pump is test, evaluate, and change your basal rates [the most important dose] and also do the same for the bolus..... a CGM will be good for information, but it will only reveal whats happening at certain times..........which is good for identifying/confirming the DP... |
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Dec 21, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Stinging insulin I find WHERE I inject is more of a sting-factor than the temperature of the insulin.You could talk to your GP or DSN about using a different length needle? After getting stomac lumps recently, from not rotating injection sites, I started using more thigh, hip and buttock sites - I was amazed at how insensitive these areas are 
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Dec 21, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Increasing BI in holidays I've noticed BG is higher than usual now that school has broken up (Primary Music Teacher). Do you think I should inrease both AM & PM background insulin?Last two weeks have been really difficult to manage BG and I've been mostly high. I expected that once school finished on Fri 18th it would be easier to manage, but if anything my readings are even higher, probably because of reduced stress? Happy Holidays!! Felix |
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Dec 21, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: Questions for HCPs / Struggling with emotions Hi Sharon, I became type 1 six months after a serious breakdown. I felt like such a failure, that I couldn't look after myself and now I had all these injections, equipment and carb counting. It was an awful time and it bought up so much doubt and anxiety. I resisted anti-depressants for about 5 months but when I finally went onto Citalopram it was a huge relief. I wish I'd done it earlier. Citalopram side effects were quite tough for about 2 weeks but the cushion that it created between me and the tidal wave of emotions meant I could get back to work, get better control and take care of myselfHas you GP suggested antidepressants? They supported me through a "can of worms". Best Felix |
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Dec 17, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / Basal check I've been Type 1 Diabetic for 5 years and it was only on my refresher last week (4 years after diagnosis) that I learned the 'theory' of basal testing (basically fasting for one meal - or having a carb free meal - and monitoring BG levels). Currently my background feels spot on so I'm not going to do a basal test just yet. When I need to, I'll come back here and ask advice first! Do consultants consider putting injectors onto pumps when they can't 'dafne' they're way around serious 'dawn phenomenon' problems? I'm an injector and my consulatant wants to consider me for a pump. I'm curious (I love techology!) but not convinced, yet. If I haven't got the DAFNE principles as second nature, then having a pump is not going to make any difference to my control. The plan goes like this: Feb 2016, I'll be given a CGM (Constant Glucose Monitoring) patch which will stay on for about 4 days so that I can sit down with my SDN (Specialist Diabetic Nurse) and unpick the data that it provides about my BG levels, with particular attention to Dawn Phenomenon (ask me! :-). Did anyone else have this preliminary? Felix |
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Dec 17, 2015
Felix Glenn
26 posts
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Topic: General Discussion / DAFNE and Insulin Pumps. Thanks, Novorapidboi,I can't tell you how reassuring it is have a posting exchange with someone! The background split dose really works for me! I was advised by my Specialist Diabetic Nurse to transfer from one daily dose of Lantus to 2 of Insulatard so I take Insulatard 16 in the morning and 10 at night: Morning BGs are sooo much more stable and the nightime Hypers are retreating. Thank you, Insulatard! Felix |